THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION OF GIRLS.

Evening Star, Issue 6895, 6 May 1886, Page 2

THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION OF GIRLS.

An open practice by pupils of Miss Turnbull’s gymnastic class at St. Clair was held at St. Paul’s School-room last evening, when a lai'ge number t of ladies and gentlemen wore present by invitation. Dr Brown was to have presided and given an address, but he was kept away by a professional engagement. Mr D. M. Spedding was, however, pressed into the service, and during the evening he took an opportunity of thanking Miss Turnbull, on behalf of the visitors, for the great treat afforded them by herself and her pupils. He referred to the great benefits to be derived from physical education, and urged upon heads of families the advisability of giving their girls, as well as their boys, the necessary physical training. They had growing up amongst them in Dunedin as fine a lot of girls as they could wish to see; but in many cases they lacked the fine carriage which, if not natural, could only be acquired by a sound physical education. Those who took part in the practice were quite young children, the oldest being apparently not more than thirteen or fourteen years of age, and they were all dressed in a neat uniform. The gymnastic exercises which they went through included jumping, dumbbell and Indian club exercises, vaulting, and feats on the horizontal bar. All were gone through capitally, and in a manner which speaks highiy for Miss Turnbull’s zeal and capacity to impart instruction in this very important branch of the training of young people. In addition to the various exercises some pretty marches were gone through by the pupils with great precision and effect, and altogether the entertainment was of a most interesting nature.